Volunteer Resources
Welcome to the Volunteer Resources page!
Current Nature Museum volunteers can access resources, like Volgistics, select sections of the volunteer handbook, and more.
Volgistics Login
Scan the QR code to sign in with your phone.
Volunteers at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences enjoy the following perks in appreciation for their work. These include:
- Membership to our museum
- A 30% discount in the museum store and café
- Member discounts on programs, workshops, and events offered at the museum
- Free admission for the volunteer and their family/friends during normal operating hours
- Reciprocal admission to many cultural institutions in the area (see list of participating institutions below)
- Volunteer appreciation events, such as “Volunteer Specials”
Reciprocal Admissions List for Volunteers
Complimentary Admission or Discounts to Chicago Area Cultural Institutions with Volunteer ID
To receive reciprocal admission, please bring your volunteer ID. Volunteers are encouraged to contact the institution ahead of time to confirm reciprocity.
Adler Planetarium
(312) 922-STAR
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605
Complimentary general admission for volunteer and up to 1 guest
Chicago History Museum
(312) 642-4600
1601 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60614
Complimentary general admission for volunteer
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
(312) 994-4000
The Rookery, 209 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 118, Chicago, IL 60604
Complimentary general admission for volunteer and 1 guest
Museum of Contemporary Art
(312) 280-2660
220 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611
No general admission, but free volunteer tours
Shedd Aquarium
(312) 939-2438
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605
Complimentary general admission for volunteer and 2 guests
Lincoln Park Conservatory
(312) 742-7736
2391 N. Stockton Drive Chicago, IL 60614
Complimentary general admission for volunteer and 4 guests
Free tour of L.P. Conservatory & Alfred Caldwell Pool on Fridays 1-4, Saturdays 9-12, and Sundays 1-4
Art Institute of Chicago
(312) 443-3600
111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
Complimentary general admission for volunteer and one guest
Field Museum of Natural History
(312) 922-9410
1400 S Lakeshore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Complimentary general admission for volunteer
Use the list below to get in touch with your Volunteer and Intern Coordinator or your department lead.
| Anabel Hirano | Volunteer and Intern Coordinator | ahirano@naturemuseum.org 773-755-5142 |
| Zack Ater | Senior Director of Guest Experience and Engagement | zater@naturemuseum.org 773-755-5121 |
| Museum phone tree | 773-755-5100 | |
| Lily Barajas Ashley Hosmer | Living Collections Staff (animal, bird, conservation care volunteers) | lbarajas@naturemuseum.org ahosmer@naturemuseum.org |
| Allen Lawrance | Associate Curator of Entomology (butterfly lab volunteers) | alawrance@naturemuseum.org |
| Seth Harper Asa Hagen | horticulture department (horticulture volunteers) | sharper@naturemuseum.org ahagen@naturemuseum.org |
| Museum Facilitators | Guest Exp. and Eng. team (PIP volunteers) | facilitator@naturemuseum.org |
| Elena Webster Steven Kramer | Guest Exp. and Eng. (Host volunteers) | ewebster@naturemuseum.org skramer@naturemuseum.org |
| Dawn Roberts | Senior Director of Collections | droberts@naturemuseum.org |
| Rob Kelsey | Beecher Lab Specimen Preparator (Beecher Lab volunteers) | rkelsey@naturemuseum.org |
| Melissa Adams | Human Resources | HR@naturemuseum.org |
Behind the Scenes
- Animal Care – care for our snakes, turtles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Assist biology staff in preparing food, feeding, and cleaning the habitat spaces for our live animals.
- Bird and Amphibian Care – care for our birds in the Butterfly Haven, as well as our amphibians and invertebrates in the biology lab. This role includes preparing food for our free flying birds, and cleaning habitat space for our amphibians and invertebrates.
- Turtle Walking (seasonal) – bring our box turtles out to the park for enrichment.
- Butterfly Lab – process chrysalis shipments, prepare live butterflies to be released, and clean pupae cases.
- Horticulture – assist horticulture staff in maintaining our outdoor prairie and butterfly gardens (seasonal). Help keep our Butterfly Haven tropical plants well watered and pruned.
- Collections – assist collections staff in various projects concerning the Chicago Academy of Sciences’ collection dating back to the early 1800’s.
- Specimen Preparation – prepare specimens (mostly birds and small mammals) for study and preservation, to be added to our collections. Occasionally engage with guests in light interpretation as they are present.
Guest Facing
- Public Interpretive Program – assist our museum facilitators in leading daily programs for our guests. Learn our museum interpretation philosophy and how to facilitate for diverse audiences.
- Host – welcome guests as they explore the museum. Offer wayfinding assistance and answer general questions.
- Special Events – assist event staff in executing special family events. This includes checking tickets, providing assistance at information tables, and sometimes facilitating an activity or interpretation table.
Need assistance? Can’t find a specific resource? Reach out to Anabel Hirano, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator, at ahirano@naturemuseum.org.
Experience nature and science up close with a trip to the Nature Museum.